Clamping structure for elevated railroad ties

ABSTRACT

A bracket for use with a clamp and screw spike adapted to clamp elevated railroad ties to a support structure comprises a Ushaped member having a base portion and vertically extending wing portions. The base portion is provided with an elongated slot and a washer received therein for registering with the nut-shaped head portion of the screw spike. The vertically extending wing portions are adapted to be secured to the tie, the bracket preventing the screw spike and clamp from disengaging and falling from said tie.

O United States Patent 11 1 3,659,784 Klosk 1 1 May 2, 1972 1 CLAMPING STRUCTURE FOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ELEVATED RAILROAD TIES 1,097,561 7/1955 France ..238/349 [72] Inventor: Lawrence Klosk, 120 Gale Place Bronx 854,755 1 1/1960 Great Brltaln ..238/349 0 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Filed: 26, 1970 Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [21] APP] No; 5,596 Attorney-James and Franklin [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..238/349, 238/310 A bracket for use with a clamp and Screw Spike adapted to [51 1 "F 19/12 E0] b 9/66 clamp elevated railroad ties to a support structure comprises a [58] Field ofSearch ..IO5/422, 238/349, 46,;37/335l8d U Shaped member having a base portion and vertically tending wing portions. The base portion is provided with an elongated slot and a washer received therein for registering [56] References Cited with the nut-shaped head portion of the screw spike. The vertically extending wing portions are adapted to be secured to UNITED STATES PATENTS the tie, the bracket preventing the screw spike and clamp from 3,552,649 1/1971 Burwell 238/349 disengaging and falling from said tie.

22 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,784

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ATTORNEY CLAMPING STRUCTURE FOR ELEVATED RAILROAD TIES The present invention relates to a clamping structure for an elevated railroad tie and in particular to means for preventing such clamping structure from falling from said tie.

Elevated railroad structures have been used for many years in large urban areas. In general, the rail and tie structure is similar to ground supported railroad tracks with the exception that the ties must be supported in a substantially elevated position (usually about 25 to 30 feet) above the ground. This is generally accomplished by a laterally extending support structure supported at intervals along the track line by girders. The girders are generally laterally disposed on either side of the structure to provide a passageway for ground transportation.

When railroad tracks are laid on the ground the ties are normally supported on a track bed of gravel or the like. The tracks are then placed on and secured to the ties by spikes or the like. Because the ties are in contact with the track bed over their entire surfaces, the weight of the tracks prevents any substantial movement of the structure relative to the ground. Moreover, after a period of time, the weight of the trains traversing the structure will force the ties into well defined indentations in the track bed, thus insuring against further movement of the track structure.

By contrast, the railroad ties in elevated structures of the type described are supported at only two narrow portions adjacent the ends thereof. Moreover, the supporting surface is a flat metal surface which is subject to substantial vibration as trains pass. As a result it is necessary to securely fasten the ties to the support structure in order to prevent lateral movement of the tracks in relation to the support structure. A common method of securing the ties to the support structure is a screw spike and clamp arrangement. The supporting girder is provided with a flanged portion extending laterally at its upper end and adapted to provide a continuous support surface of a width greater than that of the main body of the girder. A curved metal clamp is adapted to compressively engage the underside of the tie at the other end, being downwardly curved in the center. The clamp is provided with an aperture in its downwardly curved center portion adapted to receive a screw spike. A metal screw spike having a head comprising a flanged portion and a nut-shaped portion extending therefrom is inserted into the clamp aperture and screwed into the tie. The compressive engagement between the clamp and the support girder and the fixing of the clamp to the tie prevent lateral movement of the tie relative to the support girder.

Recently, it has been discovered that such structure, years after installation, tends to loosen and become disengaged from the tie. This loosening is probably a result of several factors including the extreme vibrations caused by the passing of trains and the general deterioration of the wooden ties due to environmental conditions. In any event, on various occasions spikes and clamps from the elevated railroad structure have fallen to the ground, usually as a train passes overhead. It will be apparent that the situation poses a significant public safety problem.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide structure designed to positively prevent the disengagement of clamping structure adapted to clamp an elevated railroad tie to its support structure.

It is another object of the present invention to design a bracket member of the type described which may be easily installed on existing clamping structures without the necessity of reinstalling or redesigning such structures.

It is a further object of the present invention to design a bracket member of the type described which, in addition to its function of preventing the complete disengagement of existing clamping structure from their clamped ties, also is adapted to provide additional clamping action between the tie and the support structure.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to design a bracket member of the type described which is provided with means for temporarily securing said bracket member in place while it is being permanently secured to the railroad tie.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a clamping structure and bracket member therefor as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an elevated railroad structure using the clamping means and bracket member of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clamping structure and its associated bracket member taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the clamping structure and bracket means of FIG. 2.

The present invention is designed for use in elevated railroad structure such as that schematically illustrated in FIG. I. A metal girder 10, shown fragmented, supports a conventional railroad tie 12 a substantial height above ground level I3. Girder 10 will usually be one of a plurality of girders spaced along the length of the track line on either side of ties 12. While a single girder I0 is here shown with integral flange portions 14 the upper surface of which provides support for ties 12, it will be apparent that the support structure, including flange portion 14 may comprise a series of girders, and/or other structure suitably arranged to provide support for the elevated ties and passenger station structures spaced at intervals along the line.

FIG. 1 shows the clamping structure generally designated 16 used with the present invention. A clamping member 18 comprises a relatively narrow strip of metal shaped similar to a dipper or scoop having a flattened handle. Clamping member 18 is adapted to be secured to tie 12 with its convex dipper portion extending downwardly therefrom. Handle portion 20 at its upper flattened surface compressively engages railroad tie 12, as illustrated in FIG. I. Clamping member 18 is adapted to compressively engage the underside of flanged portion 14 of girder 10 at its other end remote from handle portion 20, as indicated at 21 in FIG. I. In order to insure against lateral slippage of clamping member 18 with respect to tie l2, handle portion 20 may be formed with its comer edges slightly upturned to provide a gripping action between itself and tie 12.

The clamping member 18 is adapted to be secured to tie 12 by means of a metal screw spike generally designated 22. To this end, clamping member 18 is provided with an aperture 24 in its downwardly extending dipper portion. To provide the most effective clamping action between clamp member I8 and flange portion 14, aperture 24 should be disposed near end 21 of member 18. On the other hand, the aperture 24 must be positioned far enough from point 21 so as to provide room for a substantial overlap of flange portion 14 to which member 18 is to be clamped. Screw spike 22 comprises a shaft 28 threaded at one end and having a shoulder portion 30 and a nut-shaped head portion 32 extending therefrom at its other end. Shaft 28 passes through aperture 24 of clamping member 18 and is adapted to be screwed into wooden tie 12 by applying a suitable wrench to head portion 32. Screw spike 22 is turned until lip portion 30 bears against clamping I8 and then is further tightened to produce substantial compressive engagement of said member 18 against flange 14 at 21 and tie 12 at handle portion 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, tie 12 is now securely clamped to girder l0 and thus movement of elevated tie 12 on the supporting structure is effectively prevented. It will be apparent that if spike 22 for any reason becomes disengaged fr'om tie 12, spike 22 along with the clamping member 18 will fall to the ground, posing an obvious safety hazard for motorists and pedestrians below. Accordingly, I have designed a bracket member generally designated 34 which is effective to positively prevent the spike 22 and clamping member I8 from falling and is further effective in maintaining the compressive engagement between clamping member 18 and flange portion 14.

As best shown in FIG. 2, bracket member 34 comprises a generally U-shaped strip of metal having a base portion 36 and vertically extending side walls 38. Base portion 36 is designed to span the width of tie 12 so that side walls 38 may be received flush on the side walls of tie 12. As best shown in FIG. 3, base portion 36 is provided with an elongated slot 40 of a width greater than the cross-sectional dimension of head 32 of screw spike 22, but less than the diameter of shoulder 30. Extending from base portion 36 and downwardly spaced therefrom is a channel forming member 42 having an elongated slot 44 slightly larger than slot 40 in both dimensions. As best shown in FIG. 2, slotted members 36 and 42 together form a slotted channel 45 in which a captive washer 46 is slidingly received. Washer 46 is provided with an aperture 48, here shown octagonal in shape, adapted to receive the free end of head 32, here shown having a square cross-section. It is apparent that nut-head 32 and washer aperture 48 may be provided with any suitable mating cross-sections which will provide rotatable engagement between them. The purpose of this feature is to provide lateral stabilization of screw spike 22 so that it does not float within the width of slot 40. An additional advantage of this arrangement is that it provides significant frictional resistance (that between washer 46 and the walls of channel 45) to the incremental unscrewing of spike 22 from tie 12 due to vibration or deterioration of wooden tie 12 over a period of time. The side walls 38 of bracket member 34 are each provided with suitably spaced apertures 50 adapted to receive means for securing the bracket 34 to the side walls of tie 12, here shown as nails 52. (FIG. 2). A triangular spur 54 is cut out from each side wall 38 and is bent inwardly and downwardly to provide a temporary means for securing bracket member 34 to tie 12.

As best seen in FIG. 1, due to the small lateral separation between spike 22 and the outer edge of flange 14 (the reason for which was discussed above), base portion 36 of bracket member 34 laterally overlaps said outer edge of flange 14 when disposed in its operative position. Accordingly, vertically extending side walls 38 are formed inclined to base portion 36 as illustrated in FIG. 1, so as to clear the outer edge of flange 14 as it extends upwardly. Side walls 38 may, of course, be formed in a variety of shapes to accomplish this purpose, the drawing being illustrative of but one such design.

The mode of assembly of the clamping structure and its associated bracket member is now believed to be apparent. Screw spike 22 is inserted through aperture 24 in clamping member 18 and screwed into railroad tie 12 until shoulder 30 forces the clamping member into compressive engagement with tie 12 at 20 and flange 14 at 21. All that will be necessary, at least with respect to those existing structures using the above described clamping structure, is screw my novel bracket member thereover. This is accomplished by sliding side walls 38 upwardly onto tie 12 until base member 36 reaches head 32 of spike 22. Washer 46 is then slid within channel 45 until aperture 48 registers with nut head 32. If necessary, washer 46 is rotated until octagonal aperture 48 is in a position to receive square nut head 32, as best shown in FIG. 3. Bracket member 34 may then be further slid upwardly onto tie 12 until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 2 in which member 42 engages shoulder 30 of screw spike 22. Bracket member 34 will be temporarily held in this position by means of the gripping action of spurs 54 on wooden tie 12, To

insure such gripping action, inward pressure may be applied to side walls 38 as by tapping with a hammer or manually. The assembler is then free to permanently mount the bracket member 34 by nailing it into the side walls of the tie 12 as best shown in FIG. 2.

It willbe apparent that the spike 22 and clamping member 18 are now positively prevented from falling from the elevated structure even if the threaded engagement of the spike and the wooden tie completely fails. Moreover, it can be seen that bracket member 34, together with washer 46, tends to prevent the loosening of the threaded engagement between screw spike 22 and tie 12, due to vibration as a result of trains passing overhead. This is accomplished first by means of the frictional resistance provided by washer 46 (as previously discussed) and second by virtue of the limitation of vertical movement of screw spike 22 and thus clamping member 18 imposed by bracket member 34. Accordingly, before the bracket is installed in the manner described above on existing clamping structures, the structure should be checked as to its present effectiveness in firmly clamping tie 12 to flange 14. If screw spike 22 is found to have loosened in its threaded engagement with tie 12, it should be tightened or if necessary replaced. Once bracket member 34 has been installed, screw spike 22 may be periodically checked for any loosening due to vibration. As nut 32 is designed to extend through and well below bracket member 34, those spikes found to have loosened may be easily tightened without removing bracket member 34, merely by applying a suitable wrench to the extended portion of nut head 32.

The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive, and completely effective solution to an extremely dangerous situation posed by clamping devices currently in use on elevated railroad structures. The bracket member of the present invention is designed to positively prevent the falling of these exist ing clamping structures from the elevated ties which they secure to the support structure and possibly causing great personal injury or property damage. in addition, my bracket member is designed to inhibit loosening of the screw spikes of these present structures as a result of vibration and environmental conditions.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described herein, it will be apparent that many variations may be made thereto, all within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a railroad tie supported in an elevated position by a support means, said support means having a flanged portion, a clamping structure designed for clamping said tie to said support means, comprising clamp means having a clamp portion adapted to compressively engage said flanged portion of said support means and having an aperture spaced a given distance from said clamp portion, clamp spike means extending from below said clamp means through said aperture into engagement with said tie to holdingly secure said clamp means to said tie and thereby clamp said tie to said flange portion, and a bracket member operatively connected to opposite sides of said tie at either side of said spike means, extending generally transversely of said clamp means beneath said spike means and constituting a cradle therefor, thereby to prevent said spike means and said clamp means from falling from said elevated tie in the event said spike means becomes disengaged from said tie.

2. The clamping structure of claim 1, wherein said bracket member comprises a generally horizontally extending base member adapted to extend beneath said spike means and said clamp means, and two wing members extending upwardly from said base member generally vertically to operatively engage said tie on opposite sides thereof.

3. The clamping structure of claim 2, wherein said wing members are each provided with at least one spur extending inwardly toward the opposite wing member, said spur adapted to operatively engage said tie to temporarily secure said bracket means to said tie when said wing members are pressed against said tie, to thereby facilitate the securing of said securing means through said wing member aperture into said tie.

4. The clamping structure of claim 2, wherein said wing members are each provided with at least one aperture, and securing means received within said aperture and extending therethrough into said tie, thereby to permanently secure said bracket member to said tie.

5. The clamping structure of claim 4, wherein said wing members are each provided with at least one spur extending inwardly toward the opposite wing member, said spur, adapted to operatively engage said tie to temporarily secure said bracket means to said tie when said wing members are passed against said tie, to thereby facilitate the securing of said securing means through said wing member aperture into said he.

6. The clamping structure of claim 2, wherein said spike means engages said tie adjacent to said flanged portion of said support means and wherein said base portion of said bracket member extends transversely directly beneath said spike means vertically spaced from and overlapping said flanged portion of said support means.

7. The clamping structure of claim 6, wherein at least one of the edges of each of said wing members is inclined upwardly and over said base member, thereby to extend upwardly and away from said flanged portion of said support means.

8. The clamping structure of claim 7, wherein each of said wing members of said bracket member is shaped in the form of a parallelogram, one pair of sides of which assumes said incline upwardly and over said base member.

9, The clamping structure of claim 7, further comprising an elongated slot in said base member extending lengthwise in a direction from one toward the other of said wing members, said spike means extending through said slot.

10. The clamping structure of claim 9, further comprising washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture into which the other end of said spike means is adapted to be received.

11. The clamping structure of claim 10, wherein said spike means comprises a threaded spike shaft adapted to threadingly engage said tie, a spike head portion comprising a shoulder adapted to engage said clamp means, and a nut-like potion extending from said shoulder, said nut-like portion being received in said washer aperture, and wherein said washer means is adapted to rotate within said slot with said nut-like portion when said nut-like portion is turned.

12. The clamping structure of claim 11, wherein said nuthead has a square shaped cross-section and said washer is provided with an aperture of octagonal cross-section.

13. The clamping structure of claim 2, further comprising an elongated slot in said base member extending lengthwise in a direction from one toward the other of said wing members, said spike means extending through said slot.

14. The clamping structure of claim 13, further comprising washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture into which the other end of said spike means is adapted to be received.

15. The clamping structure of claim 14, wherein said spike means comprises a threaded spike shaft adapted to threadingly engage said tie, a spike head portion comprising a shoulder adapted to engage said clamp means, and a nut-like portion extending from said shoulder, said nut-like portion being received in said washer aperture, and wherein said washer means is adapted to rotate within said slot with said nut-like portion when said nut-like portion is turned.

16. The clamping structure of claim 15, wherein said nuthead has a square-shaped cross-section and said washer is provided with an aperture of octagonal cross-section.

17. in combination with a railroad tie supported in an elevated position by a support means, said support means having a flanged portion, a clamping structure designed for clamping said tie to said support means, comprising clamp means having a clamp portion adapted to compressively engage said flanged portion of said support means and having an aperture spaced a given distance from said clamp portion, spike means extending from below said clamp means through said aperture into engagement with said tie to holdingly secure said clamp means to said tie and thereby clamp said tie to said flanged portion, and a bracket member operatively connected to said tie, extending beneath said clamp means and constituting a cradle therefor, aperture means on said bracket member in registration with said spike means, said spike means including a nut-like portion extending through said aperture means in said bracket member and freely rotatable therein, whereby said spike means and said clamp means are prevented from falling from said elevated tie and said spike means is rotatably adjustable from the outside of said bracket member.

18. The clamping structure of claim 17, wherein said bracket member comprises a generally horizontally extending base member adapted to extend beneath said spike means and said clamp means, and two wing members extending upwardly from said base member generally vertically to operatively engage said tie on opposite sides thereof.

19. The clamping structure of claim 17, wherein said aperture means comprises an elongated slot in said bracket member extending in a direction transverse to said clamp means and washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture through which said nut-like portion of said spike means is adapted to extend.

20. The clamping structure of claim 17, wherein said spike means comprises a threaded spike shaft adapted to threadingly engage said tie, a spike head portion comprising a shoulder adapted to compressively engage said clamp means, and a nut-like portion extending from said shoulder, said aperture means in said bracket member being large enough to receive said nut-like portion therethrough in freely rotatable relationship but too small to receive said shoulder on said spike means.

21. The clamping structure of claim 20, wherein said aperture means comprises an elongated slot in said bracket member extending in a direction transverse to said clamp means and washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture through which said nut-like portion of said spike means is adapted to extend.

22. The clamping structure of claim 21, wherein said bracket member comprises a generally horizontally extending base member adapted to extend beneath said spike means and said clamp means, and two wing members extending upwardly from said base member generally vertically to operatively engage said tie on opposite sides thereof. 

1. In combination with a railroad tie supported in an elevated position by a support means, said support means having a flanged portion, a clamping structure designed for clamping said tie to said support means, comprising clamp means having a clamp portion adapted to compressively engage said flanged portion of said support means and having an aperture spaced a given distance from said clamp portion, clamp spike means extending from below Said clamp means through said aperture into engagement with said tie to holdingly secure said clamp means to said tie and thereby clamp said tie to said flange portion, and a bracket member operatively connected to opposite sides of said tie at either side of said spike means, extending generally transversely of said clamp means beneath said spike means and constituting a cradle therefor, thereby to prevent said spike means and said clamp means from falling from said elevated tie in the event said spike means becomes disengaged from said tie.
 2. The clamping structure of claim 1, wherein said bracket member comprises a generally horizontally extending base member adapted to extend beneath said spike means and said clamp means, and two wing members extending upwardly from said base member generally vertically to operatively engage said tie on opposite sides thereof.
 3. The clamping structure of claim 2, wherein said wing members are each provided with at least one spur extending inwardly toward the opposite wing member, said spur adapted to operatively engage said tie to temporarily secure said bracket means to said tie when said wing members are pressed against said tie, to thereby facilitate the securing of said securing means through said wing member aperture into said tie.
 4. The clamping structure of claim 2, wherein said wing members are each provided with at least one aperture, and securing means received within said aperture and extending therethrough into said tie, thereby to permanently secure said bracket member to said tie.
 5. The clamping structure of claim 4, wherein said wing members are each provided with at least one spur extending inwardly toward the opposite wing member, said spur, adapted to operatively engage said tie to temporarily secure said bracket means to said tie when said wing members are passed against said tie, to thereby facilitate the securing of said securing means through said wing member aperture into said tie.
 6. The clamping structure of claim 2, wherein said spike means engages said tie adjacent to said flanged portion of said support means and wherein said base portion of said bracket member extends transversely directly beneath said spike means vertically spaced from and overlapping said flanged portion of said support means.
 7. The clamping structure of claim 6, wherein at least one of the edges of each of said wing members is inclined upwardly and over said base member, thereby to extend upwardly and away from said flanged portion of said support means.
 8. The clamping structure of claim 7, wherein each of said wing members of said bracket member is shaped in the form of a parallelogram, one pair of sides of which assumes said incline upwardly and over said base member.
 9. The clamping structure of claim 7, further comprising an elongated slot in said base member extending lengthwise in a direction from one toward the other of said wing members, said spike means extending through said slot.
 10. The clamping structure of claim 9, further comprising washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture into which the other end of said spike means is adapted to be received.
 11. The clamping structure of claim 10, wherein said spike means comprises a threaded spike shaft adapted to threadingly engage said tie, a spike head portion comprising a shoulder adapted to engage said clamp means, and a nut-like potion extending from said shoulder, said nut-like portion being received in said washer aperture, and wherein said washer means is adapted to rotate within said slot with said nut-like portion when said nut-like portion is turned.
 12. The clamping structure of claim 11, wherein said nut-head has a square shaped cross-section and said washer is provided with an aperture of octagonal cross-section.
 13. The clamping structure of claim 2, further comprising an elongated slot in said base member extending lengthwise in a direction from one toward the other of said wing members, said spike means exTending through said slot.
 14. The clamping structure of claim 13, further comprising washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture into which the other end of said spike means is adapted to be received.
 15. The clamping structure of claim 14, wherein said spike means comprises a threaded spike shaft adapted to threadingly engage said tie, a spike head portion comprising a shoulder adapted to engage said clamp means, and a nut-like portion extending from said shoulder, said nut-like portion being received in said washer aperture, and wherein said washer means is adapted to rotate within said slot with said nut-like portion when said nut-like portion is turned.
 16. The clamping structure of claim 15, wherein said nut-head has a square-shaped cross-section and said washer is provided with an aperture of octagonal cross-section.
 17. In combination with a railroad tie supported in an elevated position by a support means, said support means having a flanged portion, a clamping structure designed for clamping said tie to said support means, comprising clamp means having a clamp portion adapted to compressively engage said flanged portion of said support means and having an aperture spaced a given distance from said clamp portion, spike means extending from below said clamp means through said aperture into engagement with said tie to holdingly secure said clamp means to said tie and thereby clamp said tie to said flanged portion, and a bracket member operatively connected to said tie, extending beneath said clamp means and constituting a cradle therefor, aperture means on said bracket member in registration with said spike means, said spike means including a nut-like portion extending through said aperture means in said bracket member and freely rotatable therein, whereby said spike means and said clamp means are prevented from falling from said elevated tie and said spike means is rotatably adjustable from the outside of said bracket member.
 18. The clamping structure of claim 17, wherein said bracket member comprises a generally horizontally extending base member adapted to extend beneath said spike means and said clamp means, and two wing members extending upwardly from said base member generally vertically to operatively engage said tie on opposite sides thereof.
 19. The clamping structure of claim 17, wherein said aperture means comprises an elongated slot in said bracket member extending in a direction transverse to said clamp means and washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture through which said nut-like portion of said spike means is adapted to extend.
 20. The clamping structure of claim 17, wherein said spike means comprises a threaded spike shaft adapted to threadingly engage said tie, a spike head portion comprising a shoulder adapted to compressively engage said clamp means, and a nut-like portion extending from said shoulder, said aperture means in said bracket member being large enough to receive said nut-like portion therethrough in freely rotatable relationship but too small to receive said shoulder on said spike means.
 21. The clamping structure of claim 20, wherein said aperture means comprises an elongated slot in said bracket member extending in a direction transverse to said clamp means and washer means slidingly received within said slot and having an aperture through which said nut-like portion of said spike means is adapted to extend.
 22. The clamping structure of claim 21, wherein said bracket member comprises a generally horizontally extending base member adapted to extend beneath said spike means and said clamp means, and two wing members extending upwardly from said base member generally vertically to operatively engage said tie on opposite sides thereof. 